A week for royalty-watching in London and Corpus Christi

CORPUS CHRISTI - The world was watching royalty last week as the wedding activities of Kate Middleton and Prince William unfolded on the international stage, but here in Corpus Christi we had our own royalty to watch as the King of the Royal Court of Legendary Couture was crowned at the Selena Auditorium April 28.

It was a perfect evening for a coronation. The stage was set with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and silver and gray curtains, sweeping from ceiling to floor, were tied back in a graceful swoop.

The first to enter were the royal ladies, Queen Sarah Ruth Davis and Princess Ashleigh Anne Arnim, who made a grand, sweeping entrance to the auditorium. This was followed by the Duchesses, each representing a fashion icon or style from down through the ages.

The dresses were, as usual, dazzling works of art: worth a trip to the Art Center where they will be on display for the next few weeks for all to see before they go back home to the families of the members of the court.

Each girl came out in her turn, announced by the Lord High Chamberlain, Jaime Santiago Rangel. She completed a figure 8 on the stage so we could see the dress from all angles, and then she was met by her escort, wearing a tuxedo and the customary Las Donas red sash.

The handsome pair would then bow to the Queen and Princess, and then the audience would collectively hold its breath as each girl made her signature curtsy to the crowd. This has been practiced for months, and must be done just right by each girl, who likely has had nightmares for weeks that she will get to the big moment and wobble or fall.

But this year everything went off without a hitch. All 21 girls made the requisite slow trip down to the floor followed by a deep bow and then the slow ascent back up to standing again just as if they were at the real royal wedding and curtsying to Queen Elizabeth II herself.

After all of the Duchesses had been presented, it was time for the big moment that everyone was waiting for: the announcement of this year's Lord High Steward of the Household, M. Stuart Sasser, Chancellor of the Realm, Jerry Luis Susser, and King Alonso LVIII.

Each gentleman made his way down the aisles of the Selena Auditorium, shaking hands with and waving to the crowd as they went. Then the room hushed and we all waited with bated breath to find out who the new monarch was to be. As E. Robert Adler was proclaimed to be King Alonso LVIII, a roar of applause and excitement swept through the room.

Everyone collectively stood up to greet the King. Adler was wearing his trademark cowboy hat, and processed through the crowd like a rock star greeting his fans. When the applause finally subsided and Adler made his way to the stage, he was crowned king and given the royal scepter, after which he crowned his queen and gave her the royal scepter.

Our own Corpus Christi royalty then made their way to the ballroom, where they greeted their loyal subjects. Take that, Buckingham Palace!

The following night, the King's Ball at the Corpus Christi Country Club gave friends and family a chance to have a lovely formal evening with the Duchesses and Court. The first person I saw when I walked in the door of the ball was Kimberly Sue Prowse, Duchess of the Wild West Spirit. This was perfect, because when I saw her awesome gown the night before, it made me wonder, do the girls pick the theme and color for their dresses or do their parents, or even the dressmakers?

Her dress was fantastic for somebody who liked western wear, but what if she didn't? So I asked her, and she smiled good-naturedly and answered that she got that question a lot.

"They interview us at the beginning and find out our hobbies and interests and the places you like to travel," she said. "I told them I liked hunting and fishing a lot, so then when they told me what I'd be, and that I got to carry a gun, I was really excited. The other girls' feet hurt after all this, but my cowboy boots are so comfortable I'm keeping these for dancing shoes!"

Thank you, Las Donas de la Corte, for giving us all a chance to get caught up in royal fever this year. The pageantry may seem odd to those outside looking in, but sometimes it's just lovely to watch something that is beautiful for the sake of beauty alone.

Freelancer Sarah Tindall writes about charity events, social organizations and local nonprofits. Contact her at srjtindall@gmail.com